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Fairfield University's WVOF to broadcast special election coverage

Fairfield University's WVOF will devote an entire night to covering the long anticipated, history-making election on Tuesday, November 4, partnering with Connecticut Public Radio (WNPR) and National Public Radio (NPR). The broadcast begins at 4 p.m. with the regular simulcast of "All Things Considered," and will continue at 6 p.m. with students taking over the helm to bring you breaking news.

From 7 to 9 p.m., WVOF will broadcast a special episode of WNPR's "Where We Live," exploring the election from a Connecticut perspective, including the heated 4th District Congressional race between incumbent Congressman Christopher Shays and the challenger, Jim Himes. At 9 p.m. the students will once again bring their listeners breaking news and their analysis of the election as it happens, along with interviews and expert analysis from Fairfield University administrators and faculty. Coverage will include interviews with Phil Lane, Ph. D., associate professor economics; John Orman, Ph. D., professor of politics; Walter J. Petry, Jr., assistant professor of history; and David J. Gudelunas, Ph. D., assistant professor of communication. Additional faculty experts are expected to weigh on how religion, healthcare and women's issues have impacted the election, among other issues, and a student will speak about gay issues.

Students working in the WVOF studios will have the very unique opportunity to utilize the comprehensive and broad reaching resources of NPR for any additional breaking news, culminating with live NPR coverage of any acceptance or concession speeches as they happen. WVOF will carry a live NPR feed for important announcements as results are tallied across the country.

Once a winner is announced and the students' broadcast has concluded, WVOF will continue to carry NPR coverage of the election throughout the night leading up to the usual 5 to 10 a.m. time block.

"This election special, which Fairfield students at WVOF named 'The Battle for the White House,' is a great example of how the partnership between Connecticut Public Radio and WVOF benefits our students," said Dave Grazynski, producer of WVOF's special coverage and a broadcast coordinator for the University's Media Center. Through this partnership and the availability of the resources of Connecticut Public Radio, WVOF's students will be able to access and integrate an audio feed produced by highly respected professionals. Not only is this extremely beneficial to the students' success in producing this media event, but it allows them to use this as a learning experience to greater develop their understanding and practical application of the art of radio.

"We hope you tune into WVOF on November 4th beginning at 4 p.m. to hear everything we have to offer," Grazynski said. WVOF can be found on the FM dial of your radio at 88.5 and WVOF always streams online at www.wvof.org.